News

WA Cares: Arun’s Story—Bothell, WA

October 15, 2023 — Most of us will need long-term care but don’t have a way to pay for it. WA Cares Fund is a first-in-the-nation program that ensures working Washingtonians can access affordable long-term care coverage. WA Cares is designed to help people stay in their own homes as long as possible with benefits like in-home care, home... Read More

Embracing the Arts and Aging: A Review of Two Must-Read Books

October 13, 2023 — “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”—Betty Friedan Over the summer, I found myself drawn to books celebrating aging and longevity, new discoveries about the arts and its positive impact on the brain, and the power of the mind-body connection and our beliefs, especially about age, shape our lives.... Read More

African American Caregiver Forum Focuses on Dementia Care

October 11, 2023 — Did you know that African American caregivers—who are, on average, 47.7 years old—provide care for an average of 5.2 years? Did you know that, on average, they also work 37.5 hours per week? Do you suppose they experience any stress during this time? That’s a rhetorical question, because of course they do. Does it help... Read More

October 7 is Ageism Awareness Day

October 6, 2023 — Ageism is one of the most widespread and socially accepted forms of prejudice. As defined by the World Health Organization, ageism is “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age.” The American Society on Aging (ASA) is reaching out to its members and allies... Read More

Off-Year Elections: How Your Vote Influences Livability

October 2, 2023 — What is an off-year election? In the United States, that’s how we refer to a general election that does not include a presidential election or a midterm election for either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. What’s on the ballot? Generally, in an off-year election, you’ll find candidates for city and county... Read More

Falls Prevention: From Awareness to Action

September 13, 2023 — There is a difference between being aware of something (e.g., the knowledge or perception of an issue) and acting on that knowledge. Just because we “know” something (e.g., the importance of physical activity) doesn’t always mean we follow an exercise program. In the case of falls, knowledge is important for everyone in the community. Once... Read More

135 Meals in a Van

September 11, 2023 — My husband, a friend, and I just returned from a lifetime trip to Alaska. We drove more than 7,000 miles, and—except for a few nice meals out for special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays—we cooked all our meals in our van or outdoors in our trusty cast iron camp Dutch oven. The galley in our... Read More

Helping to Build an Age-Friendly Community

September 9, 2023 — The 2023 YES FEST, an annual community celebration at Yesler Terrace Park, was held on Friday, July 28. I was able to come out and support Age Friendly Seattle, with which I’ve worked as a summer intern. I distributed information about Age Friendly Seattle and Aging and Disability Services (ADS), the Area Agency on Aging for... Read More

Civic Coffee Recap: End of Life Planning

September 7, 2023 — In July, Age Friendly Seattle and the South Park Senior Center hosted a Civic Coffee on end-of-life planning. Panelists were Beverly Tryk, the communications manager for People’s Memorial Association, and Maria T. Greene, estate lawyer at her law office, Maria T. Greene, PLLC. According to AARP, only four of every 10 adults in this country have a will... Read More

Grandparents Day: Rooted in Community, Culture, and Love

September 5, 2023 — Grandparenting takes many forms. Some grandparents have little contact with their grandchildren, while others provide hours of care each week. Some grandparents live nearby—even with their grandchildren—while others live a long distance away. Some grandparents have custody of their grandchildren—they provide full-time kinship care, in place of parents. No matter which relationship grandparents have with... Read More